Fiber feeding apparatus



May 9, 1961 A. v. MOODY, SR

FIBER FEEDING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 4, 1960 a k251i.

INVENTOR.

AMA l4 L/ M00004 6% BY 14447725, 06P70M pyzzfz/sA/se ,arropn/sys y 1951 A. v. MOODY, SR 2,983,325

FIBER FEEDING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 4, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ALMA 1/ MOOOX 5e BY 14447-715; faavsralg/ fi z 1 4.9945? y 1961 A. v. MOODY, SR 2,983,325

FIBER FEEDING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 4, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 6? a as 65 6 I INVENTOR.

- BY 14/47 065 770 py4sgxz5u/? 60 W y 1961 A. v. MOODY, SR 2,983,325

FIBER FEEDING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 4, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN V EN TOR.

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United States Patent cc 2,983,325 Patented May 9, 1961 FIBER FEEDING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 4, 1960, Ser. No. 6,709

16 Claims. (Cl. 177-71) This invention pertains to textile machinery and more particularly to a fiber feeding apparatus for delivering measured quantities of fibrous stock to a carding machine or the like.

In the textile industry, it is common practice to feed measured quantities of fibrous stock into carding, garnett and other similar machines. This textile feeding is accomplished by a feeding machine which supplies a delivery conveyor with measured quantities of fibrous stock. At periodic intervals in a cyclic operation the feeder discharges or dumps these measured quantities of fibrous stock on the delivery conveyor.

The feeding machine has a supply hopper. Quantities of a selected fiber are placed in the hopper. Usually, the base of this hopper is a hopper feed conveyor which constantly urges the fiber stock toward another conveyor known as a spike apron.

The spike apron is a specialized conveyor which has a plurality of outwardly extending fingers or spikes. The spike apron forms one wall of the hopper at the discharge end of the hopper conveyor. The hopper conveyor, as has been noted, urges fibrous stock against the spike apron. As the apron spikes pass through the hopper, they engage the stock and draw fibers out of the hopper and upwardly to a discharge end of the spike apron.

Tlhe fibers lifted by the spike apron are delivered at the discharge end to a weigh box. When the weigh box contains a predetermined and desired amount of fibers,

- the movement of the spike apron is stopped until after the weigh box has been emptied. When the spike apron stops an overflow control door simultaneously swings across the entrance to the weigh box between the discharge end of the spike apron and the weigh box. The overflow control door collects any fibers which may subsequently fall off the spike apron or which may accumulate because of the momentum of the apron, causing some small amount of additional delivery even after the delivery of power to the spike apron has stopped.

The periodic feeder discharge empties the weigh box of the measured quantities of fibrous stock. If the weigh box has the predetermined quantity of fibrous stock at the time of the discharge or dumping the desired effect is obtained but if the quantities vary in weight, the yarn produced therefrom will vary in uniformity, as will the cloth woven from such yarn. I

The wide variety of textible fibers which are now in use has amplified the problems connected with dependable fiber feed. Often, relatively small quantities of a particular fiber are placed in the hopper of one of the feeders, because a production run on a particular fiber may be relatively short. For this reason, the hopper often has relatively small quantities of fibers in it. The problem of dumping before the desired quantity of fiber has been delivered to the weigh box most commonly occurs when the quantity of fibrous stock in the hopper is low. For this reason, the trend toward shorter production runs of a single type of fiber results in -a more frequent occurrence of the condition which cause improper measuring of fibrous stock by a feeder.

Accordingly, this invention provides a novel and improved fiber feeding machine which dependably discharges the desired quantity of fibers on each cyclic dump.

The present invention overcomes these listed and other disadvantages by providing a mechanism which automatically speeds up when the weigh box is filling too slowly. A time delay mechanism is provided which automatically speeds up the spike apron through a variable motor drive, when the apron has not supplied the weigh box with the desired quantity of fibers within a predetermined period of time. The timer is automatically started when a weigh box filling cycle commences. As soon as the box is filled, the timer is stopped. If the box fails to fill in a selected period of time, then the motors variable drive and apron are speeded up to assure proper filling of the weigh box before the periodic dump occurs.

The invention also provides a feeder having a means responsive to the weight in the weigh box to speed up the spike apron when the weigh box is filling too slowly.

The invention also provides a novel and improved machine wherein the improved dependability is obtained through the use of a time delay mechanism which automatically speeds up the spike apron if the weigh box has not received the desired quantity of fibers within a predetermined period of time.

Further, the invention provides a mechanism made in accordance with the foregoing discussion in which the apron drive motor has a full low speed and a full high speed and in which the time delay means shifts the apron motor drive from full low to full high when the predetermined quantity of fibrous stock has not been delivered to the weigh box within the predetermined time interval.

Additionally, the invention provides a novel and improved mechanism made in accordance with the foregoing in which a clutch for transmitting power from the drive motor to the spike apron, and motors for causing the drive motor speed change, the overflow door closing, and the weigh box dumping, are all fluid motors, to provide a mechanism which is safer than prior known fiber feeding machines.

A more specialized feature of the invention is to provide a machine made in accordance with the foregoing wherein the fluid used to actuate the fluid motors and the fluid clutch is air.

The preferred arrangement of the invention provides a fiber feeder wherein a mercury or micro switch is pivotally carried by the frame of the feeder and wherein a scale responsive to weight in the weigh box is provided which scale is operably engageable with the mercury switch to actuate the switch when a predetermined weight is in the weigh box.

In this fiber feeder an overflow door, a weigh box door and the apron motor speed control are all actuated by fluid cylinders and the spike apron drive includes a fluid clutch. The fluid clutch and the fluid motors drive are each actuated by solenoid valves, which valves in turn are actuated by a cyclic switch and a mercury or micro switch. The mercury switch controls the overflow door, the time delay mechanism and the spike apron while the cyclic switch controls the same elements and the weigh box door as well. The apron speed control is controlled by a timer.

Other features and a fuller understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the following description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which;

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the improved fiber feeding machine;

.assaszs s Figure 2 is a foreshortened front elevational view of an upper portion of the device on an enlarged scale with respectto Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view of the novel and improved air actuated clutch incorporated in the device;

Figure 4 is a wiring diagram showing the control circuit of the device;

Figure 5 is a schematic view of the fluid supply system and motors; and

Figure 6 is an enlarged top plan view of the apron drive motor.

Referring to the drawings, and Figures 1 and 2 in particular, a frame of a fiber feeding mechanism is designated by the numeral 10. A fiber hopper 11 is defined by the frame 10. The hopper 11 is at one side of the machine, the left side in Figure 1 where it appears. The hopper 11 is in the lower portion of the frame 10, having its base defined by a hopper conveyor 12.

A spike apron 13 is reeved over upper and lower apron support rollers 14, 15. The lower roller 15 is positioned ad acent to-the hopper conveyor 12. The lower roller 15 is positioned adjacent to the hopper so that the spike apron defines one side wall of the hopper. The spikes, not shown, of the apron draw fibers upwardly at a slight angle, to the right of the vertical as seen'in Figures 1 and 2. The spike apron has a discharge end at the upper roller 14. The apron discharges fibers at its discharge end through an upper inlet opening at 17 into a tubular weigh box 18. The weigh box 18 has a pair of discharge doors 19, 20 which normally close a lower discharge opernng at 21.

The weigh box doors 19, 20 are pivotally mounted at 22, 23. The pivotal mountings 22, 23 are along opposite, lower side edges of the weigh box. A linkage 24 is connected to the weigh box doors 19, 20. The linkage is periodically actuated in a manner which will subsequently be described in more detail. Actuation of the linkage 24 opens the weigh box doors 19, 2t and dumps the contents of the weigh box 18 onto a delivery conveyor 25, Figure l. The delivery conveyor 25 may be of the usual construction and it may be driven by the garnett 211; other machine being supplied measured quantities of ers.

An apron drive spnr gear 27 is secured to the upper spike apron roller 14. The gear 27 is driven by a smaller spur gear 28 which is secured to and driven by a clutch drum 29. The clutch drum 29 forms a part of a fluid actuated clutch shown generally at 30 in Figures 2 and 5 and shown in structural detail in Figure 3. The fluid clutch 30 provides one of the advantages of this inventron. The fluid clutch 30 is a quick acting, positive, yet simply controlled, means of selectively driving the spike apron 13.

The clutch drum 29 is journaled on a driven shaft 31. A driven clutch assembly 32 is carried by the shaft 31 and forms a part of the clutch 30. The driven assembly 32 is fixed to the shaft for rotation with it. The assembly 32 includes an inflatable, preferable annularrnember 33 which carries a clutch shoe 34.

Air or other fluid under pressure may be introduced through a conduit 35 which is connected to a passage 36 formed in the shaft 31. The passage 36, in turn, is connected through conduit 37 to an annular chamber 38 defined by the expansible member 33. Introduction of air under pressure into the chamber 38 inflates the expansible member to drive the clutch shoe 34 inwardly into tight engagement with the drum 29. With the shoe 34 in engagement with the drum 29, rotation of the shaft 31 will drive the drum 29 and the attached spur gear 28. Rotation of the spur gear 28, in turn, drives the apron gear 27 and the connected spike apron 13.

Thus, the selective introduction of air under pressure into the chamber 38 will, when the shaft 31 is rotating, cause rotation of the spike apron 13. The mechanism for selectively introducing and releasing air under pres- 4 sure to and from the chamber 38 will be described below.

The shaft 31 is driven by a spike apron drive motor and variable speed transmission 40. A belt and sheave drive 39 connects the shaft 31 to the drive motor.

It is desirable to provide a mechanism to prevent the entry of any additional fibers into the weigh box 18 after a predetermined weight of fibers is in the Weigh box 18. This mechanism takes the form of an overflow door 41, which is pivotally mounted on the frame at 42, see Figure 2. An arm 43 connects the overflow door with an overflow door control, fluid motor 44. The overflow door fluid motor 44 is preferably a single direction air cylinder. Return of the air cylinder 44 and the overflow door 41 to a fully opened position is accomplished by a spring 45 which is carried on the arm 43. The spring I 45 is interposed between a suitable shoulder 46 on the arm 43 and the air cylinder 44.

The overflow door control motor 44 is connected through an air conduit 43 to a door and apron control four-way solenoid actuated valve 49. The valve 49, through a mechanism which will subsequently be described in more detail, selectively delivers and releases air under pressure to the clutch 30 and the air cylinder 44. When there is air under pressure in the clutch expansion chamber 38, the air cylinder 44 is released to put the overflow door 41 in its fully opened position while the spike apron is in operation. When the pressure to the clutch chamber 38 is released, it is simultaneously introduced to the air cylinder so that the overflow door shifts to the closed position shown in phantom in Figure 2 as the spike apron stops.

Apair of scale arms are provided. One of these scale arms 50 is visible in the drawings. The arms are pivotally mounted on the frame at 51. The corresponding scale arm, not shown, is on the opposite side of the weig. box 18. The weigh box is pivotally supported on one end 52 of the scale arms.

A balance weight 53 is carried on the arm 59. The balance weight 53 is selectively positionable along a calibrated portion 54 of the arm 50. The calibrated portion of the arm 54 is disposed between the pivot 51 and opposite end 55 of the visible one of the scale arms 50.

A mercury or micro switch 57 is pivotally supported to the frame 10. The switch 57 has an arm 58 which is actuated by a trip arm 59. The trip arm 59 is secured to the opposite end 55 of the visible one of the scale arms 50. When a predetermined quantity of fibrous stockis in the weigh box 18, the scale arms 50 will tip. Tipping of the arms 50 raises the trip arm 59. The trip arm 59 urges the switch arm 58 upwardly to pivot the mercury or micro trip switch 57.- This pivoting opens the switch 57.

The switch 57, see Figure 4, is connected through a conductor 58 to coils 60 of the door and apron control valve 49. Coils 60' are connected through conductor 62 to a source of electric potential identified by the numeral 63. The switch 57 is series connected through conductor 78 to a normally closed micro switch 65. The micro switch is connected through conductors 68, 61 to the source 63.

When master switches 64 and the micro switch 65 are closed, the mercury switch 57 controls both the overflow door and the spike apron. This control is accomplished when the mercury or micro switch is opened by action of the scale. The opening of the mercury or micro switch 57 deenergizes the coils 60. Deenergization of the coils 60 'actuates the door and apron control valve 49 to deliver air under pressure to the overflow door control motor 44 and release the air pressure from the clutch chamber38.

The micro switch 65 is-mounted on the frame'lil. The micro switch 65 is controlled by a cam 66 which is driven by and forms a part of the delivery conveyor 25. Since the delivery conveyor 25 is "normally driven bythe machine being supplied, -the micro-switch is cyclically actuated by the machine being fed.

The dumping is accomplished by a normally open micro switch 67. In practice the normally open and normally closed micro switches 65, 67 are one single throw double pole switch. For clarity of illustration, two switches are shown in Figure 4. Closing of the switch 67 permits current to flow from the source of electric potential 63, through the conductor 61, conductor 68, the switch 67 and thence through conductor 69 to a coil 7 0. Thereafter, the current flows through a conductor 71 to the conductors 62 and the source of potential.

The coil 70 is an energizing coil of a weigh box control three-Way solenoid actuated valve 73. The weigh box control valve 73, like the four-way valve 49, is connected through a conduit system 74 to a source of air under pressure designated by the letter P. When the coil 70 is energized to actuate the valve 73, air under pressure is delivered through conduit 75 to a weigh box door control, fluid motor 76. The weigh box door control motor 76 is carried by the weigh box and connected to the linkage 24. When the weigh box door control motor 76 is energized, the linkage 24 is moved to open the doors 19, 20 to dump the contents of the weigh box.

Since closing of the micro-switch 67 results in dumping of the weigh box, it will be seen that the mercury switch will immediately return to the closed position. To maintain the overflow door in a closed position and the spike apron inoperative during the dumping operation, the micro switch 65 is connected in series with the mercury switch 57. The micro switch 65 opens simultaneously as the weigh box control micro switch 67 closes and deenergizes conductors 78 and conductor 58 and coil 60.

One of the outstanding advantages of this invention is obtained through the apron drive motor 40 and the control of it. The apron drive motor 40 is an adjustable speed motor. Preferably, it has a full low speed and a full high speed. The motor is shifted from one speed to the other through manipulation of a shift arm 79. The shift arm 79, in turn, is controlled by an apron speed control fluid motor 80. The fluid motor 80 is selectively actuated by energizing an apron speed control, solenoid actuated, three-way valve 81. The valve 81 is connected through the conduit system 74 to the source P of air pressure.

A time delay member which is delineated by rectangular lines identified by the numeral 84 in Figure 4. The time delay mechanism 84 may be a device such as an Agastat time delay relay sold by the ASA Division of Elastic Stopnut Corporation of America, Elizabeth, NJ.

This time delay mechanism 84 includes a coil 85 which is connected in parallel to the coil 60 of the door and apron control valve. Conductors 86, 87 connect the coil 85 to conductors 58, 62, respectively, to form this parallel circuit. The coil 85 controls a throw 89 of a time delay switch. The throw or contact 89 is connected through conductor 95 to coil 83 of the apron speed control valve 81. The coil 83 is connected through a conductor 96 to a conductor 62 and thence to the source of potential 63. Whenever the coil 85 is energized the throw 89 is held against a contact 92 by a timer 93. The contact 92 is not connected to anything and therefore no circuit is formed by the throw 89 when the throw is against the contact 92.

When both the mercury switch and the cyclic switch are closed, the coil 85 is energized and the timer 93 starts to operate. After a selected predetermined time interval the timer 93 permits the coil 85 to cause the throw 89 to snap against a contact 94 which is connected to a terminal 90 of the time delay mechanism. The terminal 90, in turn, is connected through conductor 91 and the conduotor 6140 one side of the source of potential 63. Thus, when the throw 89 is in electrical contact with the contact 94 the coil 83 is energized. Energizing the coil 83 actuates the speed control valve 81 to deliver air under pressure to a speed control fluid motor 80. The speed 8' control fluid motor shifts the apron drive motor and transmission 40 from full low to full high Speed.

Operation of the feeder Before the machine is turned on and before a sequence of work cycles are commenced, balance weight 53 is selectively positioned along the calibrated portion 54. When a weight position is selected which will permit the scale to tip, a desired and predetermined weight of fibers are in the weigh box. The time delay mechanism 84 is adjusted to a predetermined time interval as, for example, 20 seconds with a 30 second operating cycle. The master switch 64 is closed and the machine is ready for operation.

At the commencement of a feed cycle the switches 57 and 65 are in position to energize the coils 60 causing the overflow door to open and the spike apron to operate. The switch 67 is open and the coil 70 is de-energized and the Weigh box doors are closed. Thus, if the switches 65, 67 are closed and the switch 57 open, closing the master switch 64 will actuate the valve 49 to deliver air under pressure in the chamber 38 to expand the deformable member 33. Expansion of the deformable member 33 moves the friction clutch shoe 34 into driving engagement with the drum 29.

When the shoe 34 and drum 29 are in engagement, rotation of the shaft 31 causes the spur gear 28 to rotate the apron gear 27. As the apron gear 27 rotates, the spike apron picks up fibers and delivers them over its discharge end at 14 into the weigh box at 18. When the weigh box 18 holds a predetermined weight of fibers, the scale arms 50 are tipped and the mercury switch 57 is opened.

As soon as the mercury switch 57 is open, the coils 60 and will be deenergized. Deenergization of the coil 60 stops the spike apron and closes the overflow door 41. Deenergization of the coil 85 stops the timer 84. The mechanism will remain in this position until the cam actuated normally open micro or cycling switch 67 is closed. Opening of the micro switch 65 maintains the coils 6t) and 85 in their already deenergized condition. Closing of the switch 67 will energize the coil 70. Energizing the coil 70 actuates the weigh box control valve 73 to open the weigh box door.

In the event that the predetermined weight of fibers have not been delivered to the weigh box within the predetermined time interval, 20 seconds in the example cited, the spike apron drive motor and transmission 40 is shifted to high speed. This speed increase is accomplished through the action of the timer 84. When the predetermined time interval has elapsed the timer 84 causes the timer throw 89 to shift into contact with the contact 94. This shifting of the throw 89 energizes the coil 83. The coil 83 actuates the apron speed control valve 81 delivering air under pressure to the speed control fluid motor 80. Air under pressure drives a control arm 98 of the motor inwardly against the action of a spring 99 positioned on the arm 98. The arm 98 moves the feed control arm '79 from the full low to the full high position. Causing the apron motor to operate at full high speed assures the delivery of the preselected quantity of fibers to the weigh box before the switch 67 is cyclically actuated.

As soon as the weigh box has its predetermined weight of fibers the mercury switch 57 will be open and the spike apron will be stopped. Opening of the switch 57 will also deenergize the timer coil 85 to return the apron motor to the low speed. Subsequently, the switch 67 will close dumping the weigh box and concluding the cycle. When the switch 67 is reopened and the switch 65 simultaneously closed, the entire operation will be repeated.

While the invention has been described with a great deal of detail, it is believed that it essentially comprises an improvement in a fiber feed mechanism wherein a time delay means causes the spike apron drive motor to speed up if a predetermined weight of fibers is not in the Weigh box at the end of a predetermined time interval. The

messes invention also includes a system of speed and operation controls which are air actuated.

Having thus described this invention in such full, clear, concise and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same, and having set forth the best mode contemplated of carrying out this invention, I state that the subject matter which I regard as being my invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in what is claimed, it being understood that equivalents or modifications of, or substitutions for, pants of the above specifically described embodiment of the invention may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in what is claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. In a textile fiber feeder including a supply hopper, a weigh box including a scale, a spike apron for delivering fibers from the hopper to the weigh box and a motor means operably connectable to said apron, the combination of power means carried by the feeder and connected to the weigh box to dump said box repeatedly in work cycles of predetermined time intervals, time delay means actuated by said power means once each work cycle, said time delay means being operably connected to said motor means to increase the speed of said motor means from a low .to a high speed after a measured time interval of less duration than the work cycle time interval, and, means responsive to the weight of fibers in the weigh box operably connected to the time delay means and to the weigh box to return the motor means to such low speed after a predetermined quant'ty of fibers is in said weigh box.

2. In a textile fiber feeder including a supply hopper, a weigh box including a scale, a spike apron for delivering fibers from the hopper to the weigh box and power train including a motor means connectable to said apron, the combination of power means carried by the feeder and connected to the weigh box to dump said box repeatedly in work cycles of predetermined time intervals, time delay means actuated by said power means once each work cycle, said time delay means being connected to said. motor means to increase the speed of said motor means from a low to a higher speed after a measured time interval of less duration than the work cycle time interval, power train control means carried by the feeder and responsive to the weight of the weigh box, the power train control means being connected to the power train to stop the apron and to the time delay means to return the motor means to such low speed after a predetermined quantity of fibers is in said weigh box.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the time delay means includes a timer controlled switch and a coil and wherein the actuation of the time delay means comprises actuating the timer-controlled switch by energization of the coil.

4. In a textile fiber feeder including a supply hopper, a weigh box including a scale, a spide apron for delivering fibers from the hopper to the weigh box and a motor means operably connectable to said apron, the combination of power means carried by the mechanism and operably connected to the weigh box to dump said box repeatedly in cycles of predetermined time intervals, a coil controlled time delay means carried by the feeder and actuated by said power means once each cycle, said time delay means being connected to said motor means to increase the speed of said motor means from a low to a higher speed after a measured time interval of less duration than the work cycle time interval, and a mercury switch carried by the mechanism and connected to the weigh box, the mercury switch being electrically connected to the time delay means coil to deenergize the time delay and thereby return the motor means to such low speed after a predetermined quantity of fibers is in said Weigh box. v

5. In a textile fiber feeder including a supply hopper,

a weigh box including a scale, a spike apron for delivering fibers from the hopper to the weigh box and a motor means operably connectable to said apron, the combination of power means carried by the mechanism and operably connected to the weigh box to dump said box repeatedly in work cycles of predetermined time intervals, time delay means carried by the feeder and actuated by said power means once each work cycle, said motor means having a full low speed and a full high speed, said time delay means being operably connected to said motor means to shift the speed of said motor means from the full low to the full high speed after a measured time interval of lessduration than the work cycle time interval,

and means responsive to the weight of fibers in the weigh box operably connected to the time delay means and to the weigh box to return the motor means to such low speed after a predetermined quantity of fibers is in said weigh box.

6. In a fiber feeder including a frame defining a hopper adjacent one side and a lower portion, a tubular weigh box carried in an upper portion of the frame adjacent the side opposite the hopper, the box having a vertically disposed throu'gh passage extending from an upper intake to a lower discharge end opening, the weigh box including.

at least one door pivotally supported at the base thereof and positionable across the lower discharge opening, an endless spike apron reeved over at least two spaced apron supporting rolls journaled in the frame, the spike apron having a fiber delivery reach extending from the hopper to a discharge end above the upper opening of the weigh box passage, a spike apron drive motor mounted on the frame and connected to at least one of the apron rolls by a power train including an apron drive motor train transmission, a scale carried on the frame and including a calibrated portion movably supporting a balance weight, the weigh box being supported by said scale, an overflow door pivotally mounted on the frame and having a closed position below the spike apron discharge end and above and across the passage upper opening, the combination of weigh box door control means connected to each such weigh box door and to the weigh box, said power train including clutch means carried by the frame, overflow door control means carried by the frame and connected to the overflow door; cyclic control means carried by the frame and operably connected to said clutch means, to said weigh box door control means and to said overflow door control means to actuate such means at predetermined cyclical time intervals; weight responsive control means mounted on the frame and in operative engagement with the scale, said weight responsive means being connected to the clutch means and the overflow door control means to actuate the clutch and overflow means when fibers of a predetermined weight are in the weigh box, said apron drive motor transmission having at least a high and a low speed, apron motor speed control means mounted on the frame and operably connected to the apron drive motor transmission to shift the motor from the low to the high speed, said speed control means including a time delay means in operative connection with and actuatable by said cyclic control means, said speed control means also being in operative connecnon with and actuated by said weight responsive control means.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein the clutch means 18 an air actuated clutch and wherein the weigh box door control means, the overflow door control means and the apron drive motor speed control means each include at least one air actuated fluid motor,

8. A fiber feeding machine comprising a frame structure having upper and lower sections, the frame defining a hopper in the lower section adjacent one side of the frame, the frame also defining a weigh box portion in the upper section and adjacent the side of the frame opposite the hopper, a tubular weigh box mounted in the weigh box portion and defining a vertically disposed open-ended fiber passage, the box passage having an upper intake end opening and a lower discharge end opening,

at least two spaced apron supporting rollers journalled in the frame, an endless spike apron reeved over the rolls, the spike apron having a fiber delivery reach extending from the hopper to a discharge end above the box upper intake end opening, at least one weigh box door pivotally connected to the weigh box and having a closed position extending across and closing the lower discharge end of the weigh box passage, the door means being pivotal to an open position, a weigh box door control fluid motor, a lever system connecting each such weigh box doors to the box door control motor for selectively opening each such weigh box door when the box door control motor is actuated, a spike apron drive motor and transmission mounted on the frame, clutch means mounted on the frame, the clutch means being in driving connection with one of the apron supporting rolls and in driven connection with the apron drive motor and transmission, scale means mounted on the frame and pivotally supporting the weigh box, weight responsive switch means carried by the machine and operably engageable with one of the scale means, at least one overflow door pivotally mounted on the frame and having a closed position below the spike apron discharge end and above and across the weigh box passage upper inlet opening, an overflow door control fluid motor carried by the frame and connected to the overflow door, a first solenoid actuated valve connected to the clutch and to the overflow door fluid motor for selective supply of fluid under pressure thereto, said weight responsive means being connected to said first solenoid valve to close said overflow door and to actuate said clutch means and stop the apron when fibers of a predetermined weight are in the weight box, a second solenoid actuated valve connected to the weigh box door 'fluid motor to selectively deliver fluid under pressure thereto, said apron drive motor and transmission having at least a high and a low speed, the motor and transmission also having a lever for shifting the apron drive motor and transmission from the low to the high speed a speed control fluid motor carried by the frame and connected to the lever, a third solenoid actuated valve connected to the speed control fluid motor for selectively supplying fluid under pressure thereto, cycle control switch means carried by the frame to periodically actuate the second solenoid valve and thereby actuate the box door control motor, time delay means having a timer and switch operatively controlled by said timer, said time delay means being operably connected to said third solenoid valve to actuate said valve a predetermined time interval after the cycle control switch means has actuated the second solenoid valve.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein the time delay means is adjustable.

10. The device of claim 8 wherein both the cyclic control means and the weight responsive means deenergize a coil in said time delay means to stop said timer and wherein the timer is started when the time delay means coil is energized.

11. A fiber feeding machine comprising a frame structure having upper and lower sections, the frame defining a hopper in the lower section adjacent one side of the frame, the frame also defining a weigh box portion in the upper section and adjacent the side opposite the hopper, a tubular weigh box mounted in the weigh box portion and defining a vertically disposed open-ended fiber passage, the box passage having an upper intake end opening and a lower discharge end opening, at least two spaced apron supporting rolls journalled in the frame, an endless spike apron reeved over the rolls, the spike apron having a fiber delivery reach extending from the hopper to a discharge end above the upper intake opening to the weigh box passage, weigh box door means pivotally connected to the weigh box and havinga closed position extending across and closing the lower discharge end opening of the weigh box passage, the door means being pivotal to an open position, a weigh box door controlled fluid motor connected to the box, a linkage system connecting the weigh box door means to the door control motor for selectively opening the weigh box door means when the door control motor is actuated, a spike apron drive motor and transmission mounted on the frame, a fluid actuated clutch mounted on the frame, the clutch being in driving connection with one of the apron supporting rolls and in driven connection with the apron drive motor, a substantially horizontally disposed pair of scale arms having first and second ends, each of the arms being pivotally supported by the frame, the weigh box being pivotally supported on the scale arm first ends, at least one of the arms having a calibrated portion disposed between the arm support pivot and the second end, a weight movably supported on each such calibrated portion, trip switch pivotally mounted on the frame and in operative engagement with one of the scale arm second ends, an overflow door pivotally mounted on the frame and having a closed position below the spike apron discharge end and above and across the weigh box passage upper inlet opening, an overflow door fluid motor carried by the frame and connected to the overflow door, a four-way solenoid actuated valve carried by the frame and connected to the clutch and to the overflow door fluid motor for selective supply of fluid under pressure thereto, a three-way solenoid actuated valve connected to the weigh box door control fluid motor to selectively deliver fluid under pressure thereto, said apron drive motor and transmission having at least a high and a low speed, the motor transmission also having a lever for shifting the apron drive motor transmission from the low to the high speed, a lever control fiuid motor carried by the frame and connected to the lever, a solenoid actuated valve connected to the lever control fluid motor for selectively supplying fluid under pressure thereto, a time delay member having a coil and a timer actuated by activation of the coil, said time delay member having a switch operatively controlled by said timer, a pair of cam actuated double throw switch means carried by the frame for actuation by a cam driven by a machine being supplied by the fiber feeder, the four-Way solenoid and the time delay coil being electrically connected together in a first parallel circuit, said trip switch and one of said pair of cam actuated switch means being series connected to one another and said parallel circuit, said three-way valve solenoid being connected in series with the other of the cam actuated switch means and in parallel with said first parallel circuit, and said timer controlled switch being series connected to the lever control fluid motor valve solenoid.

12. In a textile fiber feeder including a supply hopper, a weigh box including a scale, a spike apron for delivering fibers from the hopper to the weigh box and a motor means opcrably connectable to said apron, the combination of power means carried by the feeder and connected to the weigh box to dump said box repeatedly in work cycles of predetermined time intervals, speed control means connected to the motor means and actuatable to shift the motor means to a higher speed after a predetermined time interval of less duration than the work cycle, and weight responsive means responsive to the Weight of fibers in the weigh box connected to said weigh box and to said speed control means to deactuate said speed control means when fibers of a predetermined weight are in the weigh box.

13. A fiber feeder comprising, a frame having at least one scale fulcrum, at least one scale arm member, each such scale arm having first and second ends and being balanced on one such fulcrum intermediate its ends, a scale weigh box member connected to said scale arm member at the first end thereof, delivery means carried by the frame to deliver fibers to said weigh box, a time delay speed control mechanism connected to the delivery means to accelerate the delivery a predetermined time interval after the beginning of each cycle, a cyclic control connected to the delivery means and to the time delay mechanism to repeatedly and cyclically actuate the delivery means and the time delay mechanism, a trip switch interposed between the frame and one of the members for actuation when the member is moved by a quantity of fibers, balance means interposed between the frame and at least one such scale arm to predetermine the quantity of fibers required to actuate such trip switch, and said trip switch being connected to said delivery means to stop the delivery when such predetermined quantity of fibers is in the weigh box.

14. The device of claim 13 wherein the delivery means includes a prime mover and a clutch controlled by said cyclic means to start and stop the delivery of fibers, and

wherein the prime mover has at least two speeds, and 1 2,586,713

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Deuning July 31, 1945 Ratclifie Feb. 19, 1952 

